Floristic-functional variation of tree component along an altitudinal gradient in araucaria forest areas, in Southern Brazil

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the taxonomic and functional variations of tree component of Araucaria Forest (AF) areas located along an altitudinal gradient (700, 900 and 1,600 m asl), in the southern region of Brazil. The functional traits determined were leaf area, specific leaf area, wood density, maximum potential height and dispersal syndromes and deciduousness. The data were analyzed through a functional and taxonomic dissimilarity dendrograms, community-weighted mean trait values, parametric and nonparametric tests, and Principal Component Analysis. The largest floristic-structural similarity was observed between the lower altitude areas (700 and 900 m asl), whose Bray-Curtis distance was 0.63. The area at 700 m asl was characterized by a predominance of deciduous and semi-deciduous species, with a high number of selfand wind-dispersed species, whereas the area at 1,600 m asl exhibited a predominance of animal-dispersed and evergreen species. It was also observed that there were significant variations for leaf traits, basic wood density and maximum potential height. Over all altitudinal gradient, the ordinations indicated that there was no evidence of functional differentiation among dispersal and deciduousness groups. In conclusion, the evaluated Araucaria Forest areas presented high floristic-functional variation of the tree component along the altitudinal gradient.

Estruturação espacial de traços funcionais de espécies arbóreas em função da distância da borda em Floresta Alto-Montana no sul do Brasil

“…Apesar da relevância de estudos com abordagem funcional, pouco se conhece sobre esses aspectos em comunidades de espécies arbóreas de áreas subtropicais, principalmente aquelas situadas em elevados patamares altitudinais, sujeitas a uma forte restrição climática, como é o caso das Florestas Ombrófilas Mistas Alto-Montanas no Sul do Brasil. Além de ocuparem, relativamente, uma pequena área geográfica, restrita aos planaltos e serras do sul e sudeste do Brasil, devido às baixas temperaturas essas florestas diferem floristicamente e funcionalmente das fitofisionomias em menores altitudes, apresentando um conjunto único de espécies, predominantemente de folhas menores, menor porte em altura e maior densidade da madeira (SOBOLESKI et al, 2017). Em grande parte, as áreas remanescentes ocorrem na forma de fragmentos florestais sujeitos ao efeito de borda, que pode ter influência sobre os padrões de diversidade da comunidade de espécies arbóreas.…”

Edaphic and Topographic Factors and their Relationship with Dendrometric Variation of Pinus Taeda L. in a High Altitude Subtropical Climate

“…Understanding the edaphic and topographic influence on forest development is essential for rational management of forest and soil. Studies relating forest development to soil conditions are common for native forests (Zhang et al, 2016;Mendonça et al, 2017;Oberhuber, 2017;Soboleski et al, 2017 ), showing the strict relationship between soil, relief, and forest, and highlighting the importance of studying these relationships at the landscape scale. However, in commercial forests, these relations are not clear, especially in rugged terrain where relationships between the landscape, soil, and plants are more complex.…”

Functional niche differences between native and invasive tree species from the southern Brazilian mixed forest

“…On a regional scale, the thickness of leaves is often related to temperature gradients (Rosbakh et al 2015). Therefore, our findings can be associated with adaptations to frosts in higher altitude areas (Soboleski et al 2017).…”

“…highlighted by an earlier study investigating forests along an altitudinal gradient in the same region (Soboleski et al 2017). Species frequently observed at higher elevations forests, with perennial and more coriaceous leaves, such as Pinus spp.…”